Rome-based architecture studio Schiattarella Associati has designed a new mosque in the Saudi Arabian city of Ha’il, based on the Saudi cultural identity values of Najd architecture.

The 22,500m2 Al Jabri Mosque is able to host 3000 worshipers, set within a building complex that acts as both as a service structure with religious and educational functions, as well as a landmark for the Muslim community in the area.

The architects looked to the identity of the local area and its relationship with the urban surroundings to define the formal and architectural elements of the project.

The mosque complex is developed around an enclosed central square, designed to act as a meeting point. Access to the square is enabled through covered passages and small, shaded courtyards.

Commercial activities are set around the central plaza, including coffee shops and restaurants, as well as offices, libraries, a Koranic school and sports facilities for young age groups located on the upper levels. The main mosque is the dominant structure within the overall building complex.